Marion To Fetch Around $8M Annually?

[Spurs Brazil]

Marion To Fetch Around $8M Annually?

League insiders believe that Shawn Marion will be fortunate to earn a contract worth $8 million annually on the open market.

Marion, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, realizes that the current economic conditions aren't going to help drive up his value.

"We do talk about stuff like that, but is the NBA going to fold?" Marion said. "You see people in baseball and football signing these big-ass contracts and I'm pretty sure their attendance went down a little bit. Everyone is taking a hit, but at the same time it's not stopping people spending money."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/57911/20090314/marion_to_fetch_around_$8m_annually/

[BRHornet45]

poor guy. he may need some food stamps now

[Chieflion]

Slightly above the MLE like 6 million to 7 million. His game is declining and he knows it.

[exstatic]

Eight Million? That would still require cap room or Bird rights. The few teams with cap room this summer probably won't be spending it on 30-something past-their-prime SFs. I wouldn't be shocked to see him fielding Mid Level exception offers in the vicinity of $6M. He's a really good rebounder for size, a good defender, but extremely limited offensively. He's been overpaid badly on this contract, and the gravy train ends this summer.

As for why the players aren't seeing many effects of the downturn yet, the bottom didn't drop out of the market (August) until well after season ticket renewals last year. This coming season could be bad.

[sribb43]

NBA should blackball this ungrateful son of a bitch

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

NBA should blackball this ungrateful son of a bitch

:tu